Examination of Teachers.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 107, 7 May 1887, Page 2

Examination of Teachers.

♦ The Inspector-General of Schools' report on the examination of candidates for teachors' certificates for 1886 has been laid on the table of the House. For tho ordinary examination 786 candidates entered their names, 141 for Class D. 310 for Class E, and 305 for completion of "partial pass." Sixtyeight failed to appear, and the numbers examined were as follows :— l2B for Class D, 318 for Clous E, and 272 for completion. Of the candidates for completion, 128 (47 per 'cent) wero successful. Of the candidates for Class D. a considerable number had already obtained "pass" or "partial pass" for Class E, and 29 of these were among the 37 who failed. The proportion of passes among the 446 examined for D and E was 19 1 per cent., 50 D candidates and 33 E candidates being successful, and 2 of the D candidates passing for Class E, though they failed for D. The proportion of failures among the 446 was 44.6 per cent. The remaining 363 pet cent, represents those that were partially successful, that is, 36 candidates who will be admitted to Class D on passing in one or two subjects in which they were weak, 124 who will be admitted to Class E on similar tonne, and 2, who though they failed for Class D, completed their title to Class E. It is not possible to make a very simple statement of successes and failures, because the candidates that fail are not all regarded simply as failing, but " partial passes " are recognised, and a bare failure for Class D is often treated as a pass for Class E, or as the completionof apartial "pass "in Class E already registered. The consideration in this way shown to teachers is of more importance than clearness in the statement of results. Of the 37 candidates who failed for Class D, 29 hare either passed for Class E on former occasions or have obtained "partial pass" before, so that 8 only go to swell the list of absolute failures; these added to 162 failures ; these added to 162 failures for E make up 170 absolute failures. Many of those who failed have failed once, twice, thrice, or oftener, np to nine times, this being the ninth annual examination. Thero are 93 case* of first failtue. Tho records of tho department now contain the names of 562 candidates wbv liavo failed once or 'jfteiicr, :tnd have not jet passed beyond the »-iugo of failure;, r'nive of tbem contiuti« year after year to make the attempt to pass, and some of those who have failed appear to have given np the attempt. 562 candidates hive not passed beyond the stage

of failure The whole nnmbor of perßonß who havo at somo titno or other been in correspondence with the department with a viow to obtaining certificates is 3721.